The DA is attempting to ring the alarm bells regarding another potential mental health NGO crisis in Gauteng. Once again, licensing is involved.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 31: Family members of victims weep after Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s testimony at the Life Esidimeni arbitration hearing on January 31, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the hearing, Makhura called for officials behind the Life Esidimeni tragedy to face criminal charges. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thulani Mbele)

The Life Esidimeni disaster left family members without their loved ones and disgraced the Gauteng Health Department. Now, there are more concerns in the province as some mental health NGOs are technically illegal.

The 60 NGOs are responsible for over 3000 patients and are yet to receive new licenses after their old ones expired at the end of March.

According to DA Shadow Gauteng Health MEC, Jack Bloom, the Gauteng Health Department has still not caught the necessary wakeup call.

“This [the license issue] is due to incompetence by the Gauteng Health Department which appears to have not learnt the lessons of the Esidimeni disaster when patients died after being sent to unlicensed NGOs.”

“Licensing requirements for 126 mental health NGOs who receive subsidies from the Department were tightened up last year, with licenses issued that expired on 31 March.”

The 60 NGOs that are in Johanessburg and east Gauteng have also had their Service Level Agreements (SLAs) expire. These agreements have not been renewed or even renegotiated.

Bloom says the department is exposing itself to “severe legal liability” by not issuing licenses to the NGOs and renewing their SLAs. The DA in Gauteng now wants the “inexcusable” delay rectified as soon as possible, along with strict monitoring to ensure patients are properly looked after.

The Life Esidimeni crisis resulted in 144 deaths while some others still remain unaccounted for. While making his ruling after the inquiry concluded, Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moeneke instructed the government to compensate family members of the victims with R1.5m per family.

The inquiry was a long and painful process as MECs were grilled by lawyers, Moseneke and even distraught family members of the victims. As the inquiry came to a close, lawyers read out some of the names and characteristics of those who lost their lives.